The Celtic FC foundation have made a sizeable donation to help meet Scotland’s men’s national deaf teams £40,000 target to play in European Championships.

The Scottish men’s national deaf team launched a fundraising initiative last month in their quest to compete in Turkey this summer after reaching the tournament for the first time. But they needed to raise £40,000 to cover all the travel and accommodation costs. The Celtic FC foundation – the charitable arm of Celtic Football Club – donated £6,600 to get them over the £40,000 line with Joseph Sheridan, SDFA secretary expressing his gratitude to Celtic and everyone else who has helped reached the milestone.

He’s described the chance to compete as a ‘opportunity of a lifetime’ for the team in what is the biggest competition they have ever qualified for. Joseph told the Celtic website: “We are so grateful to Celtic for getting us over the line and to so many others who have helped us along the way.RELATED ARTICLES

“It’s an opportunity of a lifetime for the men to fulfil a lifelong dream and it is the biggest competition they have ever qualified for. It just means so much to all our players.

“Without the support from Celtic and so many other people who have helped us, some of these guys would never have had a chance to do this. Life is really difficult being deaf. It has many, many challenges, so for these men to have a chance to represent their country, and knowing that people are behind you, is really something and is really emotional.

“We know that times are difficult and that everyone is asking for money, but to reach this target and allow these guys to realise their dream is phenomenal. I really do think this moment could have such a positive effect on the lives of so many, inspiring younger generations to follow their own dreams.

“There are around 4,000 deaf kids out there in Scotland and if they see what has happened here, they too can be inspired to go on and achieve their own dreams, in football or any other are of life.

“While we have reached this first target, this gets the team across but any additional support to further enhance our chances in competing in this tournament would be amazing.

“Agreeing to keep our JustGiving page going will allow us to accommodate further contributions and we value all further support going forward.”

The competition takes place between May 20 and June 1 and Celtic FC Foundation chief executive Tony Hamilton has wished the players heading to Turkey all the very best for the tournament and to enjoy the experience they ‘so richly deserve’.He added: “We are delighted, along with so many others to have contributed to achieving this target which will allow the team to go to the Championships. It is a great collective effort.

“The appeal really resonated with us, given our initiatives working with deaf people. The challenges these guys face in every day life are significant and for them to get to the Euros is a brilliant achievement, which we had to make happen for them.

“We hope they have a really successful tournament but above all, enjoy this experience which they so richly deserve.”

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